Chief of Staff: Increase Meeting Attendance - Add Some FUN!

Barbara Melnick

2015-2016
Chief of Staff/Extension

Are you keeping your meetings open and fun? Are you:

• Bold?
• Adaptive?
• Flexible?
• Creative?
• Enthusiastic?
• Optimistic?
• Dedicated?
• A Good Listener?

All of the above (and more) means you are receptive to new ideas for our VFW Auxiliary and welcoming our new members.

Has your Auxiliary:

• Had a backyard meeting?
• Had a meeting at your local Veterans Park? (Keeping within the Bylaws)
• Had a breakfast meeting?
• Changed the time of your meeting in the summer or winter months to accommodate seasonal schedules?
• Had a themed meeting (I.e. holiday, tea party, fiesta, sports, western, decade beach/Hawaiian, etc.)? An occasional themed meeting adds some fun to the meeting and allows members to learn more about one another.

A few other ideas to help welcome new members:

• Encourage the use of name tags for all members (not just Officers) at each meeting. There are few things more intimidating and embarrassing than asking someone's name if you have never met them (or have before and have forgotten their name!)
• An acronym chart. Every organization (ours included!) is full of acronyms. When someone first joins, they don't know what a SOI or COA is. It's easier to become interested and involved in our organization if you know what someone is talking about!
• Consider doing an icebreaker (no more than 10 minutes) before you open the meeting.
• Are your meetings dominated by a few members? If so, try passing out three to five coins (or tickets) to each meeting attendee. Attendees must "spend" a coin or ticket each time they talk. No borrowing allowed!
• Keep it positive! At the start of each meeting, ask each member to briefly (less than 20-30 seconds) share something positive. Some ideas include:
• Share how you've helped a veteran since the last meeting.
• Name a member who's helped you since the last meeting.
• Mention one Auxiliary/Post event or volunteer opportunity you're looking forward to in the coming month.
• Something you learned about the VFW Auxiliary and/or its National Programs since the last meeting.

Change is good, especially if you make it fun and you are sensitive to everyone’s needs.

 

Let’s get out there and be positive, enthusiastic VFW Auxiliary members. Let’s not say no. LET’S SAY YES and get members coming to meetings and being involved in the Auxiliary. Let’s say YES to the new male members waiting to be asked to join our VFW Auxiliary. Be Optimistic! JUST RECRUIT!

Hospital: September is Suicide Awareness Month

Grace Matz
2015-2016 Hospital
National Ambassador

We strive to bring Veteran and Military Suicide Awareness information to our members and community throughout the year and it is especially important to do so in September, which is Suicide Prevention Month.

Each day, an estimated 22 veterans commit suicide. You can help lower this number and make a difference in the life of a veteran or service member in crisis by educating yourself and others about the warning signs of suicide.

The blue teardrop is the VFW Auxiliary's symbol that we can use to open a conversation to give this issue the attention so desperately needed. Members have shown their creativity in creating pins, necklaces, buttons, stickers, etc using the teardrop. You can use the teardrop template which is available on the National Organization's Hospital Program page. Wear it when you run errands, attend meeting, church, at work, etc. When asked what the teardrop is, share that it's to create awareness for veteran and military suicide.

The Veterans Crisis Line began in 2007 and has saved tens of thousands of lives. In addition to the hotline, it also offers an anonymous online chat service and a text-messaging service to provide support 24/7. Those who take the calls to the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained to understand the challenges the veteran and their families have faced, helping veterans of all ages and circumstances. Some responders are veterans themselves. Learn more about the Veterans Crisis Line here: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/About/AboutVeteransCrisisLine.aspx

Did you know that if you are concerned about a veteran that YOU can make that call? Those closest to a veteran may be the first to realize that he/she is at risk. By learning the warning signs/signs of crisis, you could be the one that saves the life of a veteran.

To join the “Power of 1 Movement” where ‘One small act can make a difference in the life of a veteran or service member in crisis.’ You will learn to identify the early warning signs of a veteran who may be in crisis and  can download material to distribute to your members and community. If you are near a VA Hospital, contact their Suicide Prevention Coordinator for more information or to schedule a training session for your members.

Every life is precious. Let’s work together to support those who have given so much for us.

Veterans Crisis Line:   1-800-273-8255 Press 1, Text Messaging:  838255

Americanism: September's Patriotic Days

Mary Stroud
2015-2016 Americanism
National Ambassador

I would like to share some information I have come across pertaining to the patriotic dates for this month. This is some good information to share.

For a complete list of our nation's Patriotic Days and information about them, please visit the National Organization's website and download "Our Nation's Patriotic Days."




Patriot Day – September 11
Patriot Day, also known as the national Day of Service and Remembrance, occurs on September 11 each year in memory of those killed during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Those we lost September 11, 2001 will forever hold a cherished place in our hearts in the history of our nation. By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), Congress authorized the President to designate September 11 each year as “Patriot Day” to perpetuate the memory of those who perished in the attack on America, and to pursue peace and justice in the world and security at home. Appropriate ceremonies and activities include a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. EDT, remembrance services and candlelight vigils. Flags should be flown at half-staff on Patriot Day.

POW/MIA Recognition Day – Third Friday in September
POW/MIA Recognition Day honors the commitments and the sacrifices made by our nation’s prisoners of war and those who are still missing in action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day is on of the six days specified by law on which the black POW/MIA flag shall be flown over federal facilities and cemeteries, post offices and military installations. Plan ahead and check with your local facilities to make sure they have a POW/MIA flag and if not, it would be a great time to make a formal presentation of the flag to the facility. POW/MIA – YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

Gold Star Mother’s/Family’s Day – Last Sunday in September
Gold Star Mother’s/Family’s Day honors mothers and families who have lost a service member in combat. The name comes from the custom of families hanging Service Flags in the window of their homes. The Service Flag has a star for each family member in the armed forces. A blue star represents a family member in active service, a silver star represents a family member wounded or injured in a war zone and a gold star represents a family member killed during active-duty and stands for sacrifice made for honor and freedom. The American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was founded shortly after World War 1 by Grace Darling Seibold, who lost her son, George Vaughn Seibold, during the war. Gold Star Mothers are often socially active, but are non-political. Gold Star Mother’s Day was designated by Congress on June 23, 1936. In September 2012, President Barack Obama rededicated the last Sunday in Sept as “Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day.”

Please continue to do all the great work you do honoring and serving our heroes, our veterans. OUR VETERANS, NOW AND FOREVER!

Membership: Welcome All New Male & Female Members to the VFW Auxiliary

Joyce Bilyeu

2015-2016 Membership
National Ambassador


WELCOME all eligible males to the VFW Auxiliary AND all new members. We are so excited to have you as a part of this wonderful organization. I know your journey with this elite organization will be an experience you will carry with you for generations to come.

By now all VFW Auxiliaries should have the new applications and are recruiting new members. You can download a single-page application from the National Organization’s website or order the brochure using the fillable Brochure Order Form. Remember a couple of things regarding eligibility:

• If a person is eligible to join the VFW, then they are NOT eligible to join the Auxiliary. If you currently have a female VFW member who is also a VFW Auxiliary member she does NOT have to quit the Auxiliary. However, as of now you cannot sign up folks for dual membership into the VFW and VFW Auxiliary. 
• If a Men’s Auxiliary member wants to join your VFW Auxiliary they must fill out an application, be investigated, voted on and accepted just as you had to. An individual who is eligible for both the Men’s Auxiliary and the VFW Auxiliary may have memberships in both; they must also pay membership dues in both since they are separate organizations.
• While signing up males into the VFW Auxiliary DO NOT forget to sign up new female eligible members. We do not want to leave any Brother or Sister behind. 

Auxiliaries, we would love to see pictures of you initiating men and women into the organization.
Please send those pictures to Megan at the National Auxiliary Headquarters at
mzinn-sanchez@vfwauxiliary.org so she can post them on social media.

Just a couple of things to take note of and share with your members:

1.  The member award forms (5 members and 20 members) that are in the National Program Book should be for NEW members only. There is NO Reinstate member. Please pass this information along to others.  The correct forms are on our national website under the “Programs” tab, and “Membership” tab. Click on my “Membership Tools” page to find the correct forms.

2.  The monetary awards for reaching our quarterly milestones are the following:
 

Sept. 30, 2015 Reach:          80% Receive:      $250	Dec. 31, 2015 Reach:          90% Receive:      $300	March 31, 2016 Reach:         95% Receive:      $500	May 31, 2016 Reach:         100%+ Receive:      $1,500	June 30, 2016 Reach: 101+% Receive Additional: $500
1St Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter	Bonus Award

3.  Work closely with your National Certified Recruiter Trainer in your Department to help assist with reaching our membership goals.  They offer wonderful  ideas and suggestions for recruiting new members and retaining existing ones.

As you can see in the graph above, we are coming upon our first quarterly milestone on September 30, 2015 to being 80% in membership. Many departments are very close to earning that extra $250 for their Departments. Congratulations to Alaska and California for exceeding that goal. They are currently working on milestone two (which is to be 90% by December 31st in order to receive an extra $300 for their Departments). I personally do not know of any Department who cannot use an extra $250. I know you can do this, especially now since our membership eligibility has expanded to males. There is No Excuse...Just Recruit!

By now you should all be planning what you will be doing for National Recruitment Week in October. Please share those ideas on social media, your local newspaper, radio stations, and with your communities overall. Please make sure to go to the National VFW Auxiliary website. All of the membership materials and resources that you might need to help in your recruiting efforts will be UPDATED with the new name and logo on Tuesday, September 8. For example: print out the “Just One” Card and make copies of it and pass them around to other members and get them to commit to recruiting “Just One” new member.  Make copies of the “door-hanger” and plan a day where you go into your neighborhoods to put them on your neighbor’s doors. Involve some young people to help; better yet, get some of your new members to help (this can help with retention).

Please don’t be the Department that is left behind. Remember it is so much more than money we are working towards. We are working towards making lives better for veterans and their families by building the biggest and best Auxiliary ever in history.

We all have 10 months to go to break a record and to show the world we care about the welfare of our veterans, their families and their children.

Youth Activities: Reward Student Patriotism

Joan Penney
2015-2016 Youth Activities
National Ambassador


I am so proud of each and every Auxiliary! You all have taken the Youth Activities and found such creative ways to involve a great number of youth groups. Job well done! The year is still young, so please keep the momentum going.

School is in full swing and before long many of you will be guests in classrooms hosting veterans in the classroom. This is the perfect opportunity to reward children for their patriotism with RAP cards. The VFW store is sold out of RAP coins but you are welcome to download the RAP card template from the National Organization’s website: http://www.vfwauxiliary.org/programs-page/youth-activities/. Other rewards include flags; patriotic stickers; patriotic pencils; red, white and blue candy; and more!

September is the month you need to consider “booking” a local school choir to perform at your Post & Auxiliary Holiday function. Ask elementary school children to create holiday cards so you have time to mail them to deployed troops, take them to nursing home residents or disperse the cards through a USO.

I realized too late that I had crisscrossed a Chairman and Department in the September promotion; Mona Benotti is from TEXAS. Sorry about that!

Again, thank you for all you do for our veterans and the youth. I hope each of you look at your rock every day and make the biggest ripple you can!

Veterans & Family Support: All About the Unmet Needs Program

Laurie Dale
2015-2016 National
Veterans & Family Support Ambassador

Veterans, service members and their families face many challenges and a big one can be unexpected financial difficulties because of deployment or other military-related activity. The program provides financial aid of up to $5,000 to assist with basic life needs in the form of a grant - not a loan - so no repayment is required. To further ease the burden, the creditor is paid directly.

Many of you have questions about the Unmet Needs Program. Read the Q&A below and don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

Q.:  What does the Unmet Needs Program do? 
A.:  Unmet Needs provides grants and referrals to other organizations to active duty or recently discharged service members and their immediate families to assist with basic life needs.

Q.:  Who is eligible to receive assistance?
A.:  To receive a grant, the service member has to be on active duty or discharged from active duty within 72 months prior to applying, and negatively affected by their military service. Everyone is eligible to receive referrals and resource information.

Q.:  How can I contact the Unmet Needs Program?
A.:  The Unmet Needs Program is located in the VFW National Headquarter in Kansas City, Mo.
                                         
Mailing Address:
Unmet Needs Program                                
406 W. 34th St.
Kansas City, MO 64111                              

Other Contact Information:
Toll Free Number: 866-789-6333
Fax: 816-968-2779
Email: unmetneeds@vfw.org
Website: www.vfw.org/UnmetNeeds/

Q.:  How do I get an application for the Unmet Needs financial grant?
A.:  The application can be found online here or at the website listed above. Completed applications must be signed, have all the required documents, and can be mailed, faxed or attached to an email.

Q.:  How does the Unmet Needs Process work?
A.:  Once an application has been completed and submitted with the necessary documents, the Unmet Needs caseworker reviews it and contacts the applicant. All applications are verified with the Point of Contact, and all expenses are verified with the creditors. Payments are sent directly to the creditor to ensure proper disbursement of donations.

Q.:  Who is the Point of Contact?
A.:  For active duty members, the Point of Contact is the senior member of the service members’ chain of command, E-8 or above, family assistance center coordinator, family readiness group, or a medical hold caseworker. For those who are no longer in the military, the Point of Contact can be a social worker, case manager, VA representative, or a VFW Service Officer.

Q.:  What additional documents are needed for the application process?
A.:  A copy of the service member’s most recent active duty orders or DD-214 (member copy 4), copies of bills that they need assistance with, a written statement from the Point of Contact verifying the hardship, and the program’s Terms and Conditions signed by the applicant. Depending on the situation, additional documentation may be requested.

Q.:  What kind of expenses does the Unmet Needs Program help with?
A.:  Unmet Needs assists with any expenses that are classified as “basic life needs,” which includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Housing expenses such as mortgage, rent, repairs and insurance
• Vehicle expenses such as payments, repairs and insurance
• Utilities and primary phone
• Food and Incidentals
• Children’s clothing, diapers, formula and necessary school or childcare expenses
• Medical bills, prescriptions and eyeglasses – the patient’s portion for necessary or emergency medical care only

Q.:  How long does the process take?
A.:  The applications are processed in the order in which they are received. The Unmet Needs office takes no more than 20 business days to process the applications after receipt of all required documentation. Caseworkers cannot move forward with a case until a completed application and all supporting documentation is received.

Q.:  How many times can I apply for the Unmet Needs Grant?
A.:  Applicants can apply once every 18 months, and only twice total. Second requests for assistance must be caused by a new situation or new deployment.

Q.:  Does Unmet Needs assist after a natural disaster?
A.:  The Unmet Needs Natural Disaster Assistance provides grants in the amounts of $300 for power loss or damage to home, or $500 for the total loss of primary residence.

Q.:  How can I help?
A.:  Contact your VFW Department or local VFW Post to let them know you are here to help. Monetary donations to support Unmet Needs can be sent two ways:

1.  Mail you donation to:
VFW Foundation
Memo-Unmet Needs
406 West 34th St. Ste. 920
Kansas City, MO 64111

2.  Text NEEDS to 90999 and $10.00 will be donated to the Unmet Needs Program.

Now that you know a little more about this program, get out there and educate other members so that we can better assist our nation's veterans, active-duty military and their families!

Scholarships: Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen

Kim Lewis
2015-2016 National Scholarships Ambassador

What an exciting year we have ahead of us! We have four Scholarship contests to promote. The first two being the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Contests with the entry deadline to the local VFW Post on Sunday, November 1. It’s time to spread the word to as many people as possible regarding the information for of these both competitions. This year’s theme for the grades 9-12 Voice of Democracy Audio Essay is “My Vision for America” and for the grades 6-8 Patriot’s Pen Essay, the theme is “What Freedom Means to Me.”

Many of you have asked why the Auxiliary isn't included in the judging process for Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen contests. Please be aware these are VFW-sponsored contests and the Auxiliary assists the Posts with these scholarship contests.

Please be sure you understand the rules for each scholarship contest before you speak with teachers, students and/or parents about the contests.

Community Awareness of our scholarship contests is again one of our goals this year. We need to let the community know what great financial opportunities we provide for talented students. Some ways to achieve this are:

• Place a free advertisement/press release in your local newspaper describing the elements of each contest – including the award amounts of each scholarship and who to contact at your local Post and/or Auxiliary. Click here for a sample press release for Voice of Democracy and click here for a sample release for Patriot’s Pen.
• Place posters in local stores, restaurants, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, etc., with permission. Posters for both programs can be purchased from the VFW Store. Voice of Democracy Posters: http://www.vfwstore.org/products/22915 and  Patriot's Pen Posters: http://vfwstore.org/products/28509  
• Don't forget about social media to reach students and their parents! Facebook, Twitter, and Post/Auxiliary websites at the local, District and Department levels are excellent places to post information about our contests. 

A sample Facebook post for Voice of Democracy could read:

Do you know a student in grades 9-12 who could use up to $30,000 for college? Encourage them to enter the VFW's Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition. Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW’s Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition. The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship and other national scholarships range from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each state wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. This year’s theme is “My Vision for America.” Entries can be submitted to VFW Post (enter your post and contact info) no later than midnight on November 1, 2015. Click here for more information: http://www.vfw.org/VOD/

A sample Facebook post for Patriot's Pen could read:
Each year more than 125,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. The first-place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $50,000, with each first-place state winner receiving a minimum of $500 at the national level. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in March. This
year’s theme is “What Freedom Means to Me.”  Entries can be submitted to VFW Post (enter your post and contact info) no later than midnight on November 1, 2015. Click here for more information: http://www.vfw.org/PatriotsPen/

If we work on our Community Awareness Goal, we will achieve our Student Participation Goal. I’m looking to see an increase in participation this year because of the excitement you create promoting these scholarship opportunities.